You may receive up to $3,500 for work on any subject related to rice in the developing world

ARFUSA annually grants up to US$3,500 per scholar for travel, scientific research, education, or artistic work about rice in developing rice-producing countries. You must be a student or scholar (of any nationality) registered at an accredited U.S. university or college and have a letter of support from a member of your school’s faculty. Creative artists must illustrate their qualifications. You must provide a full project budget and tell us where you will get additional funds beyond the $3,500, if your proposed work requires them.

ARFUSA encourages applications that involve travel to and study at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines or other developing country institutions or locations.

Applications are evaluated based on clarity of the proposal, the likely contribution to furthering knowledge, potential of applicant to become an outstanding professional, strength of the linkage with a collaborator or mentor in the Asian rice world, the likely benefit to the applicant from the collaboration.

Deadline for applications is March 1, 2019. A second competition closes July 1, 2019.

Proposal: In 1,000 words or less, state the objective of the research or activity you wish to undertake with our support, the approach you will use, and the potential value of the expected product.

Include the following Attachments:

a brief biography or CV stating your relevant experience

a copy of your academic transcript

a supporting letter from your current US University advisor

a supporting letter from the collaborating scientist with whom you will work in Asia

a budget that states the total cost of the work or activity (broken down by expense category) and how you will fund any costs in excess of the maximum $3,500 you may receive from us

A photo: If you are granted an award we will need a separate file in .jpg format that we can use on our site -- a photo of you at work on rice is a good choice! If you wish, include the photo file in your original application.

Evaluation criteria:

Applications will be evaluated on:

clarity and relevance of the proposal

likely contribution to furthering knowledge of rice science

academic excellence of applicant and potential to become an outstanding professional

ARFUSA scholars in pollination lab of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI): Jenna Reeger (left) and Ana Bossa Castro watch Hussain Sharifi take a stab at pollinating a rice plant during IRRI's 9th annual Rice: Research to Production Course, which runs 10-28 August, 2015. All three were winners of an ARFUSA Travel and Study Grant that financed their trip to IRRI in the Philippines for the 3-week course. Read more about the three. ​